Make Spoonshttps://makespoons.org
A California Girl's Adventures in Food+TravelSun, 18 Mar 2018 08:31:42 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/0c322c4eb90a9d80f908c6437b13286d?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngMake Spoonshttps://makespoons.org
Hello, 2016!https://makespoons.org/2016/03/15/hello-2016/
https://makespoons.org/2016/03/15/hello-2016/#respondWed, 16 Mar 2016 01:34:03 +0000http://makespoons.org/?p=1924I hate to say it, but I feel like I end up revisiting this thing whenever I feel like I am hitting a wall. The last post was from August 2015; just days after I parted ways with my job of three years and just weeks before I would embark upon my new professional adventure. It’s been a crazy few months.

The reality of responsibility, professional politics, and holding on to the last shred of exuberant youthful idealism that I have left concluded 2015 in a weird, but good place. Home life was good, work was fulfilling, but working on “me” and whatever that even means was left to the wayside. I often forget about myself. I don’t mean that in some selfless Mother Theresa way, I mean it in straight up neglect. I had to get surgery a couple of months ago for a lesion on my head that they wanted to make sure wouldn’t turn into anything scary. It was a necessary procedure that required rest and healing. I took one day off for it, knocked myself out the following weekend, and was back to work on Monday.

This year I identified the problem. I rang in the new year with a new, non-ironic list of resolutions. I ushered in the last year of my 20’s with a bang and a new perspective on what it means to take the time for yourself. I’ve still got a lot of learning to do this year, but at least 29 started off with one hell of a meal. At Providence. With the man that I love.

I wasn’t anticipating going on a minor “Dear Diary”-esque rant when I started writing this post, so to the couple dozen subscribers I have, I apologize. Let me make it up to you with some photos of food. Really, truly, stunning food. So good, I don’t even want to write about it. Just know that Michael Cimarusti is one of the best chefs in Los Angeles and Providence is a must-try dining experience that, while not easy on your wallet, is worth every cent.

]]>https://makespoons.org/2016/03/15/hello-2016/feed/0providence_1Miss FranberryDining: EMC Seafood & Raw Barhttps://makespoons.org/2015/08/17/dining-emc-seafood-raw-bar/
https://makespoons.org/2015/08/17/dining-emc-seafood-raw-bar/#commentsMon, 17 Aug 2015 22:23:38 +0000http://makespoons.org/?p=1920California is blessed with easy access to fresh seafood. Los Angeles in particular, is a hotbed of reasonably cheap sushi restaurants and upscale seafood-centric establishments. Koreatown’s EMC Seafood & Raw Bar meets diners in the middle with quality offerings at affordable prices. Tables fill up quickly and there is often a wait — so head there early (no reservations). Menu standouts include their seafood tower, lobster roll, garlic clams, and my most favorite dish: Uni Pasta. The bar is a hit among the happy hour sect with a couple of interesting house cocktails and a couple of craftier beer options — but with The Walker Inn & Normandie Club a block away, I’d skip the booze and focus on the shellfish.

]]>https://makespoons.org/2015/08/17/dining-emc-seafood-raw-bar/feed/1Miss FranberryDining: Cassell’s Hamburgers Reduxhttps://makespoons.org/2015/03/24/dining-cassells-hamburgers-redux/
https://makespoons.org/2015/03/24/dining-cassells-hamburgers-redux/#commentsWed, 25 Mar 2015 02:49:14 +0000http://makespoons.org/?p=1913I can’t even begin to tell you how on-the-fence I was when I heard that they were bringing Cassell’s back. For the uninitiated, Cassell’s Hamburgers was a legendary burger shop that originated in Koreatown in the late 1940s. My mother used to take me to Cassell’s after school when I was a kid for what was then considered one of the best burgers in Los Angeles. After changing ownership some time in the early aughts (and moving away for college), the Cassell’s brand eventually saw its demise just a couple of years after founder Al Cassell’s passing.

In late 2014, Cassell’s new owners (who also own The Hotel Normandie) opened up shop just a couple of blocks away from its original locale. Mixed reviews made me nervous. While I was certain that the burgers just would never taste the same, I reserved some hope that its legacy would be preserved after hearing that Short Order’s Christian Page would be in charge of the kitchen; utilizing not only Cassell’s original grill & grinder, but the recipes, too.

The Verdict? This is not the Cassell’s that I grew up with, but the quality of food coming out of this revival would definitely get Al’s stamp of approval. The space is bright and welcoming, the menu simple. Prices may be a little steeper than one would expect for a K-town burger joint, but considering the quality of ingredients (grass-fed beef, McConnell’s ice cream in the shakes, etc.), you’d be hard-pressed to make a burger and shake like this for less at home. I respected their decision to be a no-fry zone (Al would have wanted it that way), but deeply appreciated their house-made potato chips. If the sticker-shock of a $12 1/3lb burger is still gnawing at you, you should also know that each meal comes with a complimentary side sampler featuring a small portion of their cole slaw, macaroni salad, chips, and their famed potato salad.